Having your bike stolen sucks big time. But according to latest statistics you’re more likely to lose your motorcycle if it’s a Honda on a Monday or a Tuesday in California than anywhere else in the U.S.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau — a non-profit organization that’s been around for 100 years and monitors national insurance fraud and crime — in its latest analytical report estimates there were a total of 46,667 motorcycle thefts in the U.S. in 2011.

That is down 6% from the previous year even though new motorcycle sales increased by 3% - 439,678 to 440,899 - during the same period.

In general, motorcycle theft according to all of the NICB’s data is a seasonal crime with July and August in 2011 peaking at 5,544 and 5,397 respectively as the two highest months that year to get your bike stolen.

If you’re motorcycle is going to be stolen then it is most likely to be taken on a Monday or Tuesday, while surprisingly at the weekend there are less reported thefts.

In 2011, California had 50% more reported thefts than the second ranking state of Texas with 5,927 bikes taken compared to 3,950. Florida was third with 3,927, North Carolina 2,466 and Indiana at 2,114. A total of 10 states accounted for 25,983 or more than 56% of all motorcycle thefts in 2011.

If you own a Honda motorcycle you’d better stay alert as around 24% (11,014) of all bikes taken in the U.S. in 2011 were Hondas. Next up was Yamaha at 8,800, Suzuki 7,281, Kawasaki 5,009 and Harley Davidson at 3,120.

And if you lose you bike you are only 33% like to ever see it again. Out of the 46,667 motorcycles taken in 2011 only 15,017 were ever recovered.

Although California had the high proportion of motorcycle thefts it also had the highest rate of recovery at 2,085 and an average recovery time of 22 days. Florida was second with 1,334 bikes found and 24 days to recover and Texas third at 965 and 32 days to recover.

This all makes for grim reading but as we have explained recently there are a ton of ways to keep your motorcycle safe. Just pay extra attention if you’re Honda owner, living in California on a Monday night in August